Electric fire-alarm.



- Fig. 1.

No. 690,040. Patented Dec. 3|, |9o|. 0. B. THOMPSON & w. s. MIDGLEY.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

(No Model.)

Witnesses. Inventors saga/@4 0. By a Q 4 me seams PETERS co.. Pnmoumou wnsmuarou. 04 c.

' UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER B. THOMPSON AND WILLIAM' G. MIDGLEY, OF BUFFALO,-NEWV YORK.-

ELECTRIC FIRE-ALAR M.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 690,040, dated December 31, 1901. Application filed February 23,1901. Serial No. 48.479. (No model.)

of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elec tric Fire-Alarms, of which the following is a specification,

The invention relates to an improved circuit-closing device for an electric fire-alarm in which the operating mechanism is held in inoperative position by easily-melted material; and'themain object of the invention is to provide a cheap and easily-operated device of this character.

It also relates to certain details of construction, all of which will be f ully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in iehv Figure l is a front view of the circuit-closer with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a section on line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached view of the'grooved pin. Fig. 4 is a detached top view of the casing holding the easily-melted material. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line b b, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the latching device. Fig. 7 is a section on line c, Fig. 4.

In referring to the drawings in detail like numerals designate like parts.

The circuit-closers are preferably formed as shown in the drawings.

A plate 1 has a box or housing 2 mounted at one end, Within which the larger portion of the circuit closing mechanism is inclosed. Two contact-plates 3 and 4 are fastened to the under surface of the top of the box and have their ends bent into a substantially V-shaped formation and in near proximity to each other. A tubular shell is mounted in the box,and a pin 6 is supported in said shell with its inner end bearing against a spiral spring 7, also within the shell. The front end of the pin is sharpened, and a groove 8 is formed in the pin near the front end. A latching de- Vice for retaining the pin in inoperative position has a Vertical body portion 9, the lower edge of which is adapted to'seat in the groove 8 in the pin, and two longitudinally-extending-arms 10, which are pivoted at their lower ends by the pivots 11 to a short tube 12, which isrigidly fastened to the outer surface of the shell 5 and extends through an opening in the bottom of the box. The pivots extend or of the arms, and coil-springs 13'are mounted on said extensions and serve to maintain the latching device in its latched position with a spring tension.

A cylindrical casing 14 is secured to the plate 1 beneath the box 2 by screws 15, passing through the side extensions 16. This casing has a series of openings or apertures '17, in which the upper end of a plurality of vertical'draft-tubes 18 are secured. These tubes 18 are arranged in acircular ring within the casing,and the space in the casing around the tubes is filled with paraffin,wax, or other like material 19. A plurality of'wicks 20 are embedded in the paraffin' and project beneath the cylindrical casing. I

The body portion 9 of the latching device has an opening 21,'(see Fig. 6,) and a short tube 22 is mounted on the outer portion of the upper end of the shell 5. A releasingbar 23 issupported in the tubes-12 and 22 and has a bifurcated lower end 24 below the box 2, which extends around the casing 14.

. A rod 25extends vertically upward from the lower cross-bar 26, connecting the forks of the lower end, and has a disk 27, which fits against the paraffin, in substantially the center of the casing. A transverse rod 28 is rigidly fastened to the releasing-bar 23, and two coil-springs 29 are connected to the rod and serve to force the bar 23 upward. The upper end 30 of the bar is beveled, as shown, so that when forced upward it moves the latching device, lifting its edge from the groove in the pin, thereby freeing the pin.

The spring in the shell now forces the pin upward, its end passing between and into contact with both the V-shaped strips, which completes the circuit.

The coil-springs 29. and the shell 5 are supported from a metal plate 31, which is fastened to theplate 1, which is preferably of wood, by the screws 32.

In operating this circuit-closer the heat melts the paraffin or other material or the flame sets fire to the wicks, which in turn melt the paraflin. When the paraffin is sufficiently project a short distance beyond the surface circuit-closing pin provided with a groove, a

spring for forcing said pin into circuit-closing position, a pivoted latching device having a part seatingin the groove in the circuitclosing pin, a releasing-bar for said latching device having a disk, and a casing filled with easily-melted material upon which the disk seats.

3. In a fire-alarm, a circuit-closer having a housing, a pin supported Within the housing and provided with a groove, a latching device seating in the groove, a casing without the housing containing easily-melted material, and a device having means for releasing the latching device and a disk seating on the easily-melted material, i

4. In a fire-alarm, a circuit-closer having a housing or box, a circuit-closing pin within the housing, a casing containing easily-melted material, means for retaining the pin in inoperative position, and a device having means for releasing the retaining means and a portion seating against the easily-melted material.

5. In a fire-alarm, a circuit-closer having a circuit-closing pin, mechanism for retaining said pin in inoperative position and a releasing device having a bifurcated end and a disk between the branches of said end and a casing having a filling of easily-melted material upon which the disk seats.

6. In a fire-alarm, a circuit-closer having a circuit-closing pin, mechanism for retaining bar having a beveled end projecting into the opening and adapted to raise the latch and release. the rod.

8. In a fire-alarm, a circuit-closer having a circuit-closing pin, mechanism for retaining said pin in inoperative position, a releasingbar for said mechanism, a casing having a plurality of draft-tubes, a filling of easilymelted material in the casing surrounding the tubes and wieksin said easily-melted material.

9. A circuit-closer having a base, a housing on said base, a casing having a filling of easily-melted material, a circuit-closing mechanism within the housing, mechanism for retaining said circuit-closing mechanism in inoperative position, and a releasingdevice for the retaining mechanism having a portion extending without the housing and seating against the easily-melted material.

10. A circuit-closerhavingabase, ahousing on said base, a casing having a fillingof easily-melted material, a circuit-closing mechanism Within the housing, mechanism for retaining said circuit-closing mechanism. in inoperative position, and a bar having a releasing portion within the housing and an exterior portion seating against the easily-melted material.

OLIVER B. THOMPSON. WILLIAM G. MIDGLEY.

Witnesses:

L. M. BILLINGS, A. J. SANGSTER. 

